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Named after Hardin County in Kentucky through the influence of emigrants from that county. Hardin County, Kentucky, was named for General John Hardin (1753–1792), an American Revolutionary War officer and Indian fighter with George Rogers Clark in the trans-Ohio campaigns. Hardin was killed while on a peace mission to the Miami Indians.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in

1812–1839 – Gallatin

1816–1839 – Pope

1801–1812 – Randolph

1790–1809 – Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats

1840–present – Elizabethtown

History of county governing board

1839–1849 – County Commissioners’ Court

1849–1873 – County Court

1873–present – Board of County Commissioners

Documented Record Losses

May 19, 1884 – Fire. Most records lost (1839–1884).

Township Government

Hardin County has never adopted township form of government. The county has been divided into precincts.